Thermostatic regulating device



Much 10, 1925. 1,529,536

L. P. BARLOW THERMOSTATI C REGULATING DEVI CE Original Filed Feb. 28, 1923 attoznaq Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,529,536 PATENT OFFICE.

LESTER P. BAR-LOW, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

THERMOSTATIG REGULATING DEVICE.

Application filed February 28, 1923, Serial No. 621,844. Renew ed JulyBD, 1924.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, LESTER P. BARLow, whose residence is Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, and a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thermostatic Regulating Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof. 4

My invention relates to thermostatic devices for regulatino' a valve controlling the flow of fluid such for instance as the supply of water to a steam gene-rating boiler, and

my invention has for its object to provide a construction and arrangement of a chamber enclosing'the expansion member of a thermostatic device by which steam entering the chamber will be condensed to an extent suflicient to ensure a relatively rapid flow of steam thereto. A further object of my invention is to provide an expansion member which will be particularly sensitive to changes in temperature and a further object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the position of the valve .controlled by the expansion member by which a nicety of adjustment not heretofore possible may be readily obtained.

Vith the objects above indicated and other objects hereinafter described in view my invention consists in the construction and combination of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal central sectional view of a thermostatic water supply regulating device embodyingmy invention.

Figure 2 is a detail end view of the valve.

Figure 3 is a side view of a steam boiler having my water supply regulating device applied thereto.

Figure a is a front view of the same.

In the drawings 1 indicates a steam generating boiler from which steam for power or other purposes may be taken by pipe 2. 3 indicates a condensing chamber consisting of a horizontal arranged tube arranged at approximately the height at which it is desired to maintain the level of the water in the boiler 1, outside the boiler and at such distance from the side of the boiler that it will be aircooled sufficiently to cause steam from the boiler to condense to a greater or less extent. This condensing chamber 3 is connected on its upper side by tube t with a vertical tube 5 which is connected at its upper end by horizontal tube 6 wit-h the interior of the boiler above the normal water level and Preferably, as shown, near the upper end of the boiler, and is connected at its lower'end by horizontal tube 7 with the interior of the boiler below the normal water level and preferably near its lower end. The portion of the tube 4 which is connected with vertical tube 5 is preferably horizontal as shown.

The condensing chamber 3 is connected on its lower side by tube 8 with the "ertical tube 5 towards its lower end.

Steam carrying with it more or lesswater, that is wet steam, will enter the tube 6 and, as it passes down the vertical tube 5, the water carried with the steam will tend to separate and pass directly down the tube and only comparatively dry steam will enter the tube 4 and, passing through thistube,

will enter the condensing chamber 3. This chamber being-at a distance from the boiler and cooled by air circulation, the steam entering it will be in large measure condensed so reducing the pressure in the chamber as to give the effect of a partial vacuum and drawing'in steam through tube 4: until the pressure in the chamber approximates the boiler pressure. The water of condensation from the chamber flows-down tube 8 to vertical tube 5 and back through tube '7 to theboiler.

By reason of this condensing of the steam in the chamber the flow of steam into the chamber will be very much greater than if the chamber were less cool.

lVithin the tube 3 is arranged the expansion member 10of the thermostatic device for regulating a valve 24 by which the passageof water or other fluid through a pipe 12 may be regulated. In the construction shown the pipe 12 is connected with the water supply of the boiler and the valve is arranged to control a b y-pass by which water inexcess of that required to maintain,

the water in the boiler at a predetermined level is returned to the source of supply by an arrangement commonly employed in connection with boiler feeding means and not necessaryto be here shown.

The expansion member 10 consists of a relatively long tube of brass or other metal having a relatively high coefficient of expansion having numerous perforations 13 along its length and" having one end' fixedly securedtothe reduced end 14' oi aplu'g 1-5 which is secured'in the end of the chamber 3. As shown this plug is secured in the end of the chamber by screwthre'ads 'a'nd'the expansion member is secured ontheredueed.

portion 14 by screwthreads.

The interior diameter of'the chamber 3'1s considerably greater than the extreme diameter of the tubular expansion member 'so that the steam m-ay circulate freely about the exterior ofthe expansion member and thep'ertora'tions 1-3 pern'iit th'e:steam to england 22 into a valve'chamber 23 and carries on its e1ids a=valve =24 which isradapted to seat against valve-seatx25 in ahorizontal passage 26 extendingjintolthe valve chamber in line with therodi21. Theouter-end of this passage '26 is connected 'witli the Water inlet pipe '12 and from thewalve chamber 23 a discharge or return pipe 28 leads at rightangles' to the direction or the horizontalzp'assage 26. p

The valve 24v is; preferablywprov idedwithin'the passage 26 with'radial guides '29:to

prevent chattering. v

The valve chamber: 23 is provided' wjith oppositely extending arms 30 and 31 provided with openings through which: extend adjusting rods 32- and 33 respectively; :The end portions of these rods-are screuthreaded as shown and arefprovidecbrespectively'with nuts 34 and 35 against which theafr'msj '30 v and 31 bear on one side and with nuts 36 and 37 respectively bet-Ween wvhich and the arms 30jand 31 are arranged coiled-- springs 38 and 39. Lock nuts 40.an d-41- respectively serve to-hold nuts 36 and-37 against 1novement.

At their other ends the adjustin'grods- 32 and 33 are secured in disk or head-42. From. the plug 15 a screwthreaded rod 143 extends rearward through a central opening in the disk-orihea-d 42. --On-this-rod 43 is carried in rear of the disk; or headha' .:nut:44 formed in. thehub of-a1hanclwheel45 having a flange 46 in Whichare formed, at suitable distances apart, a series of holes 47.

Carried by the disk or'head .42 is a'I b-racket i seat 25.

48 having a hole 49 through it in the line of the holes 47 so-that apin'EO'th-rust through thehole 49"mayhenter 'on'e of the holes 47 and lock the hand wheel against rotation. By withdrawingthevpin 50 and rotating the hand Wheel 45 in one direction the hub of qvhich bearing against the disk or head 42,

the rod 43 Will be dravm rearwarddrawing with it the expansion member 10 and, through the connections above described, drawing the valve 24v away f-romlthe valve When'tthe ha'nd wheel 45' is rotated in theiother direction it permitsthe rod-43 I the hub of a hand Wheel 527011; theiforward side of the disk or head 42.. By'this forward: movement oh the rod 431the expansion memberlO is :cau'sed tomove the valve 24 towards the valve seat 25. The nut '51 serves, iwhe'n'. forced against the disk or head 42, to cooperate-with the 1 nut .44 to lock the rod-43, and with 1 it tlreva'lve'z24, in adjust-ed position.- i f Thescrewthread,on the rod 43 is relatively fine so that' rotation'ot the nuts 44 andv51 even through a complete rotation wills-effect. only a slight movement o f-the rod and'rotation through the arciepresent ed by the distance between adjacent holes =47 willv effect only aniextremely. slight movement thus permitting an adjustment 0f microinetric character. I

Bywadjustment ofitheiinuts 34 and36xon rod 3'2' and nuts 35 and 37 on rod 33 the position of the valve 'c'hamberv23 and the valve seat 125' :relative to 1 the "valve 324 may bemiadjusted with considerable accuracy. Vhen so adjustedto' substantiallythe position required theitina'l and ex-act u'st ment is reii'ectedzby means of the nuts i441zand :51. In -i this way a nicety of adj ustment may be secured which would "not be? possible 1 by :the adjustment of the valveicha mber on th'ez a'djusting rods 32::and 33.

-"Ih'e -haiidwheels45 and 52 being at the end away from the" valve chamber-are readily accessible. All t-hafl i's '-=nec'e'ssary .is to remove the 1 pin "50-, and -rot-'ate the hand wheel 45 through such are =as-niay be required, and-"again insert the pin," thefiha'n d Wheel 52 being of course suitably rotated to permit the reai'ward movement 5 of 3 the rod 43' or to cause its forwardniovenient'aas permitted by the rotationof the hand wheel"45.

-]nstead ofthe holes .47 and pin 50. any other. device 1 for holding the hand wheel: in adjustment positionand adapted to. be re-v leased to' permitits rotation-unay be-used.

ln arrangin'gthe devicethe tube-4 should be connected with. the: condensing: chamber near vonehend, preferably the end towards the 1 valve. chamber, and? the tube 8; should be connected with the condensing chamber near its other end so that the steam will pass from. one end of the condensing chamber to the other.

While the invention is described with particular reference to its use as a means for regulating a valve for controlling the water supply for a steam generating boiler it is to be understood that it is not limited to controlling a valve for any particular purpose as the valve controlled by it may be a throttle valve or a valve for controlling fuel supply or for any other purpose it being essential to the operation of the device only that steam be supplied to the outer chamber.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a thermostatic device for regulat ing a valve, an outer chamber of tubular form and an expansion member within the outer chamber consisting of a tube closed at both ends and perforated between its ends to admit the heating mediunr to its interior, having its outer end fixedly secured to the outer end of the chamber and having at its inner end a head carrying rod extending through the inner end wall of the outer chamber and connected to the valve to be regulated.

2. In a thermostatic device for regulating a valve, an outer chamber and an ex-. pansion member within the outer chamber consisting of a tube closed at both ends and perforated bet-ween its ends to admit the heating medium to its interior, fixedly secured at its outer end to the outer end of the outer chamber and rovided at its inner end with a rod extendlng through the inner end wall of the outer chamber, a valve connected with said rod, a valve chamber having a seat for the valve, and means for adjusting the outer chamber with reference to the valve chamber.

3. In a thermostatic device for regulating a valve, an outer chamber and an expansion member within the outer chamber fixedly secured at its outer end in theouter end of the outer chamber and provided at its inner end with a rod ext-ending through the inner end wall of the outer chamber, a valve connected with said rod, a valve chamber having a seat for the valve and means for adjusting the outer chamber with reference to the valve chamber comprising a head at the outer end of the outer chamber, a rearwardly extending rod carried by the outer end of the outer chamber extending through said head, and means on said rearwardly extending rod adapted to engage said head.

4. In a thermostatic device for regulating a valve, an outer chamber and an expansion member within the outer chamber fixedly secured at its outer end within the outer chamber and provided at its inner end with arod extending throughthe inner end wall of the outer chamber, a valve con nected with said rod, a valve chamber having a seat for the valve, and means for adjusting the outer chamber with reference I to .the valve chamber comprising a head at the rear of the outer chamber, a rearwardly extending screwthreaded rod carried by the outer end of the outer chamber extending through said head, and a nut engaging the screwthrea'ded rod and bearing against said head. I v

5. In a thermostatic device for regulating a valve, an outer chamber and an expansion member within the outer chamber fixedly secured at its outer end in the outer threaded rod carried by the outer chamber extending through said head, and nuts engaging the screwthreaded rod and bearing against opposite sides of said head.

6. In a thermostatic device for regulat ing a valve, an outer chamber and an expansion member within the outer chamber fixedly secured at its outer end in the outer end of the outer chamber and provided at its inner end with a rod extending through the inner end wall of the outer. chamber, a valve connected with said rod, a valve chamber having a seat for the valve, and means for adjusting the outer chamber with reference to the valve chamber comprising a head at the rear oft-he outer chamber, a rearwardly extending screwthreaded rod carried by the outer chamber extending through said head, and a nutengaging the screwthreaded rod and bearing against said head, and means for locking said nut against rotation.

7. In a thermostatic device for regulating a valve, an outer chamber and an expansion member within the outer chamber secured at one end within the outer chamber and provided at its other end with a rod extending through the wall of the'outer chamber, a valve connected with said rod, a valvechamher having a seat for the valve, and means for adjusting the outer chamber withreference to the valve chamber comprising ahead at the rear of the outer chamber, a rearwardly extending screwthreaded rod carried by the outer chamber extending through said head, and a nut engaging the screwthreaded rod and bearing against said head, a hand wheel carrying said nut and means carried by the head for engaging the hand wheel to lock the nut against rotation.

- 8; iii- -athernioetziticdeviee' for regu lwt-mg a valve, 2:11 outer chamber we an expansion member Within the ou 'teivc hambar Seen-r661 its Outer end in the outer end ot' flhe enter chamber and pro'vitled at its inner enii with a rod extending through the in-tier eniii :Wal'l of the outer chamber, a. valve connected with v bearing against Bil-1d head.

sii-id rod, 21- valve chamber having e'se'at for the v'zfl ve, and iiieehsv for adj ust-ing the outer el'iamber with referenee to the valve chamber comprising; a) head at the ambf the outer chamber and rods "connecting-said head with the valve ch zi' "be-r, ctr-1d rhea -ns for adjusting the miter memvtr with =1 fei eii'c'e to said head, comprising; a rezm'wardly' ex tending screwth rezitiefii rod carried by the outer cham b'e'r extenc lin'g through said hetd, and a nut enge mg the sci ewthrea'ded red and b aring ag'a HSb'SaH'Ci head.

9. In a thermestati ae'vie iOr regulating a valve; in outer chamber and iii e-"Xp'fir1s1i' )ri member within the enter chamber fixedl y secured at its outer and in the Outer 'eiid bf the enter chamber and pr\" -ided at its inner eird with it rod'efiteiiding'threugh thinner and Wall of th'e Oti'tr chziriib'er, it Vail e edn-- netted With Said red, at VR VG -di1i1iib1 11 ming 21 seat for the v'iilve, iiiiti means for id'- justing the enter cha'mber 'With reference; 130' the valve ehamb'er comprising- 1' headet-the rear 0f the ou-ter chamber, rods cementing sitii head Withthe' Vii-hi Chamber, m ans for mew-1e the outermmember with reference to said liea d, ceihpri-Sing a rea'rirzrrd1y extending serewthreaded rod carried by the outer cl-nimbe're tending throng '11said heath and a nut e ga i-ng the sc're-Wthreade'd rod aiid 10. Iii 1 thern'icist-atic device @601 regh lati-ng a Va-1W5 ah outer ehainher and an expa'nsien member Within the outer chamber secured atoize e116. Within the outer chamber and prO-vided zit its ether'elidwvitha roii extending threug'h' the v v al'l of the outer chan iher, a valve connected with said rod, 2i; Valve Chamber hzi'riiig :1 seat for the vzrlve', and means for adjusting the outer chamber with refereneefto the viflye'ehdmher "comprising a means for locking-said hzmd wheel egit-inst 6'0 rotation. I I 7 In testimony whereof :I .her'euhtd affix my signature;

LESTER P. ARDQ W 

